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Pumpkin pudding is a favorite at our house. I like to make it in the morning and chill it for an afternoon snack.

I switch between regular cream and coconut cream and it is equally delicious with either, making this a great paleo option as well.

My go tos for the sweeteners are either maple syrup, rhapadura, or sucanut. I’m not sure I have a favorite..they’re all so good!

It makes them look even more delish if you have fancy little ramekins to bake them in. I have a few, and my kiddos love when they get their own personal dish of custard.

Not sure if it has anything to do with the ramekins or not, but so far we are 5 for 5 in this house (adults included) of being this custards no. 1 fan.

The health benefits of pumpkin should merit a little more respect other than the adulterated form most people get it in through the months of September-November…That is… artificial pumpkin flavor in coffee and conventionally grown pumpkin canned in bpa laden cans for baked goods.

Here’s a quick run down of the benefits of eating more pumpkin

Full of antioxidant content

Rich in fiber which supports a healthy digestive system

Pumpkin meat and seeds are high in protein, zinc, vitamin A, and folate. (Which means this is ultra great for expecting moms as well.)

Reduces painful inflammation

Pumpkin seeds are a great source of magnesium.

Pumpkin seeds are also a great source of plant based omega 3 fatty acids.

Since it has the added sweetener this isn’t an everyday occurrence, but even when im super skimpy on the sweetener the kids gobble it up.

Custards are a great way to get healthy fats and lots of egg yolks in the kids. Both crucial for healthy brains, and especially growing and developing children.

What Sally Says About Custard/Pudding:

Puddings of various sorts are a staple of the English diet. While these rich desserts are traditionally high in sugar, they also contain many ingredients that provide growing children with important nutrients — eggs, whole milk and cream.

Some researchers believe that boiled or cooked milk is actually easier to digest than pasteurized milk. Cooking causes complex proteins to unfold so that peptide bonds become more accessible to digestive enzymes, whereas pasteurization merely denatures large proteins in such a way that they are harder to break down. However, long periods of heat treatment as in canning and spray drying, result in cross-linking in the protein chain which greatly lowers digestibility.

Both pasteurization and cooking destroy enzymes and lower vitamin availability. Puddings may be fine for an occasional treat, but they are no substitute for clean, certified, whole, raw milk for growing children. SWF.

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Paleo/ Primal Pumpkin Pie Pudding

Ingredients

2cupspumpkin puree

3 eggspastured

2egg yolksoptional

1cupcream pastured dairy or coconut cream

1tbsswedish bitters (opt)(I like Maria Trebens brand)

1/2cupmaple syrup or sucanut

1tsp dried ginger

2tspcinnamon

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/2 tspnutmeg

1/8 tspblac pepperopt

pinch of cloves

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Mix cream, eggs, pumpkin and bitters. Add sweetener and spices.

You can pour in an 8x8 baking dish, or serving size ramekins or pint sized wide mouth mason jars.

Bake for about one 50 minutes for smaller baking dishes and one hours for the 8x8 baking dish till center is jiggly.

Two years ago I enrolled in the confraternity of Christian Mothers. Aside from partaking in the benefits and instructing me in the preferred ways of raising our children in the Faith, it has been a way to meet more like-minded mothers and get advice from more seasoned mothers about any particular parenting challenge I may be going through; all while joining each other in prayer for each others families.

It’s my hope by sharing the following excerpts to promulgate knowledge of the Confraternity of Christian Mothers and hopefully to spur more wives/mothers to join. Today more than ever we need direction, love, grace and knowledge to fulfill our duty as Christians and lead our children in the one, true, faith in a world full of muttled ideals and priorities.

So I wanted to share the benefits of joining this confraternity. Even though it is hundreds of years old, if you don’t have this in your church you can be the one to set it up! One of my dear friends did this only last year for her parish (I might add she wanted to join, but didn’t want to be the one to set it up) and it is a huge hit!

The following is from the book, Mother Love, A Manual For Christian Mothers.

(As a side note, the following pages apply very much to myself. I am not intending this to be a “letter from me pointing a finger”, but a good reminder and reading, especially for myself, in hopes to animate all of us with the love of God and to live truly Christian lives.)

The Confraternity of Christian Mothers

It is Chiefly to mothers that God has confided the training of His little ones. They should, in consequence, regard the task as the principal duty of their life, and in its discharge mutually encourage, assist, and console one another. If several mothers, animated by the Spirit of God, bind themselves by promise to mutual assistance, and place themselves under the direction of enlightened ecclesiastic, they become thereby a society of Christian Mothers. For years past , hundreds of such associations have been established throughout the world, and have been raised by episcopal authority to the dignity of Confraternities. The Holy Father has in several places erected them into Archconfraternities, enriched with numerous graces and indulgences, in all of which the branch Confraternities equally share.

The Necessity in Our Own Day for Solid Christian Training

Nothing is so necessary as to believe in Jesus Christ, to love Him, and to serve Him. He who, through his own fault, has no faith in Jesus Christ, or who apostatizes from that faith, cannot be saved. Again, he that believes in Jesus Christ, but does not accomplish His divine ordinances, has just as small a chance of salvation as they that have no faith. The one is as certain of eternal damnation as the other. There is no hope of salvation for either one or the other, without a return to the faith and its holy practices, the living faith in Jesus Christ. Despite this fearful certainty, religious indifference and unbelief, with their consequent sin and depravity, are at the present day sadly on the increase. Our youth, although during their school days they may have been faithful to their religious duties, are not rarely soon deeply infected with the poison. Many of them, after leaving school, forget the teachings of their Holy Church, to follow the perverse maxims of the world. They find the Christian law too constraining. They sigh for the pleasures of earth, and for them barter those of heaven. They live as enemies of the cross of Jesus Christ; they renew His Passion by their daily crimes; and they heap up for themselves, against the Day of Judgement, mountains of indebtedness and everlasting punishment.

In almost every case, early training is the cause of their ruin; and in most cases, the fault may be traced to the ignorance or the want of piety in the mother. It is upon the mother, then, that we ground our chief hope. Could all mothers be made thoroughly Christian, the world would be saved.

Therefore it is that we exhort all mothers to unite with Mary, the Immaculate Virgin and Mother of our Lord, with Mary, their model and patroness. We exhort them, by earnest prayer, to enter into living and active communication with the blessed parents and children of heaven, with all the mothers of good will upon earth. Let them, under the guidance of an ecclesiastical director and with mutual love and assistance, learn to be animated by truly Christian sentiments, to form their children into valiant Christians, able to resist the world with it’s allurements and the flesh with its corrupt inclinations–Christians who will love the cross of their Master and carry it faithfully until death.

Special Duty of a Member of the Confraternity of Christian Mothers

Before all things else she keeps in view the special object of the confraternity, viz., the strictly Christian, strictly Catholic training of her children. Her whole aim, therefore, the most earnest desires of her heart, must tend to sowing in the young hearts of her little ones the seeds of a pious Catholic education.

To reach the end view, she must fully and conscientiously comply with the rules of the Confraternity. She must with deep devotion recite daily the prayer marked for the Associates, attend meetings regularly, listen attentively to the instructions of the Director, and zealously follow his advice.

She is to regard her Sister-Associates with special affection, not those only of the particular branch to which she belongs, but those of all the other branches throughout the world. As she and her children share in the prayers and good works of all the Mother-Associates far and near, so is she to remember, in her Confessions, Communions, Masses, prayers, and other good works, each and all of the vast Confraternity.

For the Mother-Associates who may stand in need of it, she shall do still more by devout intercession before God, by the offering of Holy Communion, by whatsoever assistance her tender heart may prompt, and by material alms as far as her means permit. In every suffering or abandoned female, be her misery corporal or spiritual, let the devout Mother recognize her Divine Savior and imagine that He implores of her an act of corresponding mercy.

Advantages to Be Derived from Membership in a Confraternity of Christian Mothers

The first and chief advantage accruing to the members is the actual presence of our Divine Lord with His graces. For this we have his own inviolable promise: “Where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I in the midst of them.”

Hence flow innumerable graces to the Mother-Associates; for where Jesus tarries there does He dispense His favors, and wherever He is present by special invitation His graces are more profusely lavished.

These multiplied and powerful graces will descend chiefly upon prayers and good works performed by the Mother- Associates in obedience to the rules of the Confraternity and the guidance of its Director. For this, too, we have our Savior’s own words. He says, “If two of you shall agree upon earth concerning anything, whatsoever they shall ask it shall be done for them by My Father, who is in heaven.”

His holy Mother cannot be far distant from the dwelling of her Divine Son, and with them both, the inmates of heaven love to tarry. The confidence of the Mother-Associates in choosing Mary, Most Sorrowful, as their chief Patroness, and the blessed parents and children of heaven as their special helpers, will obtain, as it deserves, their very particular protection and powerful intercession.

To the preceding advantages must be added the benediction of the Holy Father and of many venerable Bishops. They are our ghostly Fathers, the vicegerents of Jesus Christ. Their desires for the salvation of souls cannot fail to be fulfilled by their Master.

The next advantage is the care exercised over them by the spiritual Director, the daily intercession of the united Mother-Associates one for another, and the good example of the many. Whenever a Mother-Associate prays for herself and her children, all the other Mothers and their children partake of the fruit of her petition. It is the same with regard to all the good works. Every Mother-Associate has as much share in the merit of the good performed by the others as if it were, to a certain extent, her own individual work; and this union of love, prayer, and merit follows the departed Mothers beyond the grave.

Plenary Indulgences are as follows.

On a letter dated Jan. 17, 1968, the Sacred Penitentiary granted the following plenary indulgences to those members of the Confraternity of Christian Mothers who fulfill the normal conditions for gaining an indulgence and make or renew, even privately, their promise to faithfully observe the rules of the association.

On the day of solemn reception

On the feasts of: Holy Family, -Annunciation- Queenship of Mary – Our Lady of Sorrows – St. Gerard Majella- Christ the King – St. Elizabeth

Partial Indulgences

On four days appointed by the Director. Conditions: Prayer according to the Holy Father of Holy Mother Church.

As often as members are present at conference lectures

For the recitation with a contrite heart of the Christian Mother’s Daily Prayer for the Children.

For every good work performed according to the object and rules of the Confraternity or in its behalf.

Object of the Confraternity of Christian Mothers

The only aim of the statutes of a Confraternity of Christian Mothers is to attain with more security the object for which the Confraternity has been formed; viz., the Christian education of children, according to the evangelical precepts of the Holy Church, that they may become true Christians and faithful Catholics.

The Mothers associated in the Confraternity shall, by adherence to it’s regulations, become imitators of Mary, the Mother of Sorrows. She was the first servant of Jesus, she was His most faithful companion. She is now the dispensatrix of His graces, the spiritual Mother of all the children of Holy Church. In like manner, all Christian mothers, regarding in their children the image of Jesus Christ, should be His humble handmaids and imitators, the dispensatrixes of His graces to their children, and the mothers of their spiritual life. For that purpose they do hope for the maternal assistance of the Blessed Virgin, and to receive from her the richest blessings. They make choice of her, according to the law of the Confraternity, for their principal Patroness under the titles of “Mother of Sorrows,” sorrows which she endured through love for her Divine Son; and call upon her daily to make intercession for them.

In addition to the Mother of all mothers, the members of the Confraternity honor and invoke the holy angels and all the blessed parents and children of the heavenly court. Among them the mothers choose as special secondary patrons St Joseph, the virginal spouse of Mary and foster-father of Jesus; Joachim and Anne, the holy parents of Mary; St. Elizabeth and her holy son, St. John the Baptist; St. Monica and her holy son Augustine, the great Doctor of the Church; and , lastly, America’s loved patroness, St. Rose of Lima.

Thus intimately united with their celestial helpers, let the Confraternity of Christian Mothers enter joyously and hopefully upon their noble work of training and sanctifying the young souls entrusted to their charge.

If you are interested in joining The Confraternity of Christian Mothers, check with your parish to see if there is an existing one, and if not I strongly urge you to meet with your priest to set one up!

What Is Tallow

Not all beef tallow is created equal, it’s important to note that tallow from pastured cows have a healthy and beneficial list of vitamins and lipids that are bio available both in topical and internal uses. IE as skin care or cooking/eating with.

Tallow: Your Skins Hero

Tallow is rich in lipids and fat soluble vitamins A,D,E and K found naturally and in plentiful quantity in youthful, healthy skin. (These are the same vitamins that Dr. Weston Price found to be wanting in a SAD(Standard American Diet which you can read more about here and here.) It also has a similar molecular makeup as human skin which is why it’s easily absorbed and utilized by your body’s largest organ (your skin).

In regard to this compatibility of tallow with the biology of our skin, we should note that we are animals rather than plants, so the modern taboo against animal products in skin care products would seem unfounded and even illogical. In addition to containing very little saturated fats, plant products do not have the same levels of other nutrients needed for healthy skin. Tallow contains the abundant natural fat-soluble activators, vitamins A, D, and K, as well as vitamin E, which are found only in animal fats and which are all necessary for general health and for skin health. -Weston A Price Foundation

Tallow is a single , nutrient dense ingredient, readily available for your body’s use.

What We Use Tallow Balm For

Sunburns – If you’ve just spent a day in the sun and are feeling a bit crisp, layer tallow balm on and you may be amazed to skip the peeling/burning altogether. (It should go with out saying it is best to avoid being sunburned altogether :))

Diaper Rash- Nutrient dense healing goodness all over baby’s bum, you bet! Works like a charm wit no questionable ingredients.

Anti-aging cream – Believe it, this is called bovine botox for a reason. There was a story I read and I think that was one of the stories that convinced me how potent this stuff is before I ever tried it for myself. The story goes like this: A lady in her 50’s met with a friend at a class reunion. Her friend asked her if she had work done on her face. Beaming, the lady replied the only thing she started doing was using tallow balm. Her friend in disbelief stated she looked years younger.

Dry/Chapped Lips – It’s my winter go to for chapped lips. Works as good or better than any chapstick I’ve ever tried.

Eczema, Psoriasis – When my son was a few months old he developed the worst skin some form of eczema, and though I tried pin pointing things with diet as well, the thing that kept it cleared up was the tallow balm. I used it regularly, and if I neglected it, it always came back. It lasted that was until he was over a year old. There are countless testimonials other than mine as to the healing benefits tallow has for these skin conditions.

Dried Chapped Wintered Skin- Tallow Balm works wonders for this. And just last week it proved lifesaver again. My daught er had red, chapped hands that were raw. She came crying to me about them. I slathered them with tallow balm for two days and the second day they were all healed up.

Body “Lotion” – I feel a little redundant writing this one down, but just in case there’s any question. We don’t use lotion, we use tallow balm in it’s stead. It works wonderful everywhere.

Minor Cuts/Wounds Bug Bites/Stings – If you have severe wounds I’d recommend you go to the hospital. For all minor ones that you don’t need to go to the hospital for, tallow balm speeds up recovery. From paper cuts to a minor kitchen accidents or minor burns, it soothes and heals and aids in a speedy recovery. Paired with fitting essential oils it’s great for bug bites/stings as well.

Makeup Remover – As previously stated it’s a wonderful facial moisturizer/ anti aging cream. I tend to alternate between tallow balm and coconut oil as a make up remover. Honestly, it’s whichever is closer. It cleans make up off and is a nice eye lash treatment too.

Where To Buy Tallow Balm From

A quick google search would probably yield many different sellers. Since I don’t buy mine I would personally recommend Radiant Life as they are a company I really trust.

The price may seem a bit hefty, but I can definitely attest that a little goes a long way.

EASY DIY Tallow Balm Recipe (including how to render beef suet)

4 parts tallow

1 part olive oil

essential oils of choice

There are a variety of essential oils that are great for the skin. Lavender, tea tree, geranium, cedarwood and frankincense are a few popular choices. I usually have a few different kinds on hand. One for babies one for the men, maybe a seasonal one, and my personal mood which varies.

To Render Suet into Tallow

I buy my beef suet in 3-5# packages.

Using a large knife and cutting board cut suet into small chunks. This won’t be the prettiest. I get enough to fill up my large crock pot. Turn crock pot on low. Depending on crock pot it can take 8-12 hours for suet to liquefy. The tendons, groins and gross looking pieces will rise to the top. (This is the worst of it) I spoon out the big pieces and then pour the rest through a sieve/collander.
I then transfer the rendered and strained beef tallow into mason jars. This will be stable at room temperature. I usually get 3-4 quarts and as I wont need that much I store it in the fridge or freezer for better keeping.

To Make Tallow Balm

I wait for a jar of my newly rendered beef tallow to cool enough so that it’s still liquid and warm, but not hot. I use 2 and 4 ounce jars. I pour warm tallow into jar of choice a little more than 3/4 of the way full. I then add organic cold pressed olive oil and essential oil of choice. How much depends on personal preference and size of jars.

Give it a stir and let set.

When cooled completely it will be solid.

Tallow by itself will be hard and possibly crumbly when cold.The addition of an alternative oil, in this case, olive oil, makes it into a creamy balm while also adding additional healing benefits to your salve.

You can play around with this recipe adding more or less olive oil to get the consistency you prefer. Less will make it harder, more will it softer.

You can also try out different oils instead of using olive oil.

Castor oil, avocado oil and coconut oil are all good suggestions. I plan to try castor oil out the next time I make tallow balm.

Have you ever tried tallow balm? Do you want to try it?

If you try this recipe out as is or use any of the alternative suggestions let me know how it turns out.

If you know a friend who needs to clean up their skin care regime or found this helpful please share!

When I first discover or want to know more about something, the reviews and real life stories are what I skip straight to. I know those are the people that won’t be trying to dupe anyone.

I usually prefer to have all my gifts purchased before December starts. Some years, like this year, I’m the complete opposite, wrapping it up the week of Christmas…pun intended. hehheh.

I like my gifts to be something I can back up and feel good about. I like to give things that will be wholesome, educational, an experience or to treat someone with something they normally wouldn’t get for themselves. I try to always go with local, handmade, homemade, made in USA, and quality over quantity. This list is based on my favorite items of gifts I’ve given, wanted, received or are on my bucket lists to do any of the above.

So if you happen to still be trying to figure out a perfect gift for a loved one, I hope this gives you some ideas!

Handmade LeatherWallet-For an anniversary present for my husband I bought him a handmade leather wallet with his inititals on it, it was a huge hit, sometimes I still smell it, anyone else love the smell of leather? Unfortunately the guy I bought it from on Etsy left the business, but there’s still a great selection.

Beard Balm– As a military wife, I don’t have to worry about my husbands beard. I’m not complaining. But if you have a man that likes his facial hair, treat him with this extra special stuff. It has incredible reviews and I have lots of friends who swear by it.

Fairtrade Coffee– I feel like this is a no fail gift. If you know someone and they drink coffee, get them some extra good coffee. These make a great gift on their own or for stocking stuffers. Can also be made into a coffee lovers basket, with a french press, and a special mug. I like to find local shops and find a hand crafted mug from a local pottery. So Hygge!

Wool Socks – These wool socks have a LIFETIME warranty. They go bad, you take them in to the store and they give you a brand new pair, no questions asked. How can you go wrong. Each of our kids are getting a pair of these in their stockings this year.

Moccasins – Who doesn’t like getting a pair of wooly moccasin slippers? LL Bean and Overland Sheepskin Co. are my two favorite companies for moccasins.

Hammock – For the more outdoorsy type, this is a great gift. Folds up small, great for adventures or chilling in your yard. We purchased the Wise Owl brand over ENO and I give it a 5 star! Feels just like ENO quality for half the price.

Stainless Steel Coffee Mug – We are pretty anti plastic, but especially when it comes to things we consume. Also by using your own mug you eliminate stryofoam/paper waste, AND keep toxic plastic away from your coffee. This Yeti brand is best of the best. Though Thermos is pretty nice as well.

Copper Mugs– Not only are these great for Moscow Mules which are freaking delicious, as long as you’re 21 of course; Ayurvedic medicine says drinking out of copper has health benefits as well. As long as you’re drinking some water out of it as well and not just Moscow Mules 😉

Coppered Water Pitcher – Obviously I like copper, look at the name of my site, but this is an extra special gift, with great benefits as well, because the more you’re water sits in the copper the more it will absorb. You can read more about that here if you’re interested.

Himalayan Salt Lamps – Salt lamps purify the air by emitting negatively charged ions which cling to the postively charged dust and allergens floating in your air. Also they’re unique and pretty and emit a hygge-worthy glow. Even if they already have one, do they have one in every room? That’s what I thought.

Essential Oil Diffusers– No natural house is complete with out a diffuser or 10. I like the cool-mist variety myself.

Car Diffuser If you know someone in the car a lot, this would be a great gift.

Teflon-Free Pans – If you know someone trying to switch over to a healthier lifestyle, give the gift that feeds their whole family. Stainless steel, cast iron and stone pans are the way to go.

Essential Oil Carriers – If you have a person who uses oils, this is a fool proof gift. Lots of variety in cases. I like these handmade ones. Made from cotton-jute so their totally crunchy, and made by a small business mama.

Elkhaart Products – These products are handmade by another small business mama. She uses wholesome ingredients good enough to eat. You can see all her products on her website here, but she does most of her ordering through her facebook page here. To name a few things she makes:

Beard Balm

Sunscreen

Beeswax Candles

Custom made soap

Healing Balm

Dry Shampoo

Sugar Scrub

Body Butter

Beeswax Candles -These are a great choice for giving a homemade gift, but if homemade isn’t your thing, I love the candles made by this sweet company. With out knowing the ins and outs of making candles, this tutorial was most helpful to me. Beeswax candles are the only candles I burn in my house. They, like salt lamps, emit negatively charged ions into the air which cling to positively charged dust and allergens. They clean the air, smell like honey, and are made by an all natural/renewable source. #thankthebees

Tallow Balm – This stuff is a wonder worker. It heals sunburns, and prevents them if you put it on soon enough, speeds up healing minor cuts, and is a great facial/body moisturizer. I call it bovine botox. Yes it’s wonderful. You can make your own or purchase it.

Natural Makeup/Nail Polish – I’m still doing my own research on trying to find a makeup company that has nutrient dense makeup products that actually work. I purchased mascara, eyeliner, lipstick, eyeshadow, and a tinted concealer from this company and have been pretty impressed. I won’t say they’re the only good company because I don’t know. But they have an ingredient list you could eat. Help a girl out by giving her make up that’s good for your body.

Fair Trade/Organic Chocolate – Chocloate Lovers deserve chocolate not made with poisonous ingredients or at the expense of child labor. It’s a price worth paying for. And since it’s not empty calories you won’t need a whole pound to satisfy chocolate cravings.

Immersion Blender– I received this as a gift a few years ago and it is one of my most used tools in the kitchen. A fantastic buy!

Elliott Homestead Cookbook – If you want to eat a traditional diet, but don’t have “real-life” recipes, this cookbook is just what you need. Not only is it practical, but also probably laugh while you’re making supper.

Wool Dryer Balls – Help someone quit toxic fabric softener sheets by giving these. If you’re wondering why you should make the switch you can read up on it here.

Vitamix – Make your own nut butters, grind your own wheat, make smoothies, pates’, braunsweiger, and countless other things.

Water FiltersFor Drinking Water – If you’re not sure why you should remove the fluoride from your water here is an excellent post. This company has a great selection of water filters for different price ranges.

Family Gifts

My favorite family or group gifting ideas that I think are brilliant are memberships. Or a class to learn something new. These obviously work for individuals as well. Here are the ones I like and other group gift ideas as well.

Science Center

Imax

Zoo

Rock Climbing Gym

Painting Class

Pottery Class

Music Class

Horse Riding Lesson

Photography Class

Orpheum Theatre

Symphony Orchestra

Board Games

Gift Ideas For Kids

6 inch American Girl Dolls – these range in price from $15-30+ We don’t do barbies in our house for various reasons. And we don’t even miss them. My toddler girl loves playing with these dolls. We take them on long car rides, camping etc. They’re a hit. I also love them because with each doll I get her we learn about a different period in history.

Green Toys– I’m usually not into plastic, but I love what this company does. They are made in USA, and are made 100% from recycled milk cartons. I go to them over Melissa and Doug since M&D sold out and now manufacture their toys in China. We have their tea set. They have a nice selection of toys for boys and girls from trucks to airplanes and dish sets and baby toys.

Organic Christmas Candy Stocking Stuffers – I buy these every Christmas for our stockings. The first year we tried them even the adults couldn’t believe how good they were!

Stainless Steel Water Bottles- This is another item i’m checking off this year for our tots. Eliminate the need to buy bottled water and give your kids their own special water bottle. Plastic free, shatter proof.

Life Factory Water Bottles– I love this company. I use their baby bottles and they are *nearly* indestrucable. I also have one of these water bottles. A nother great plastic free option.

Stainless Steel Dishes – If you have kids in the house, but don’t want plastic, these are the best! We take them camping, and we use them for our every day dishes. The only thing that has destroyed one of our cups was a lawn mower. And even then it held it’s own pretty good. They will last a lifetime and can be passed on. Also if you have Laura Ingalls readers in your house, you could do a “tin” cup and a peppermint stick in their stocking! 😀

Kinetic Sand – Our kids got this a few years ago for Christmas and it is a huge hit. We keep it stored in an airtight long flat bin. And get it out when baby is sleeping. You can keep adding to it and get a little at a time as it’s a bit pricey. There are also tutorials to make your own. Just look up moon sand.

Camp Chair – For camping, fires, picniks, little kids love to have their own chair.

Play Scarves – I’ve seen these recommended countless times and wasn’t sure they’d be a hit. I actually bought play dresses at a consignment shop, and my kids like them, but I have several silky large scarves that they’ve actually confiscated and play with all the time in dress up, probably more than the dress up clothes themselves. So I now recommend these silk scarves.

Books and Book Sets Every Child should have in their library. Inspired by Living Books and Charlotte Mason

This list is of books I’ve read to my children 5 and under, and have been loved by them. It’s not an extensive list, just our personal favorites of some classics. We started reading chapter books when my oldest was 3. If they start to lose interest just stop and start up another time. Most of the time they’re begging me to go on.

Hygge (pronounced hoo-guh)

Imagine the sound you make when clearing your throat and you should get it right. It may sound funny, but it’s the hip thing these days, though far from being a fad, it’s growth in popularity is not with out good reason. Some say it is not translatable into the English language, they say, a similar word seems to be cosy, and though that describes a portion of hygge it’s far from the whole thing.

I’ll leave it to the hygge pro to sum it up in a paragraph..or two.

Hygge has been called everything from “the art of creating intimacy,” “coziness of the soul,” and “the absence of annoyance,” to “taking pleasure from the presence of soothing things,” “cozy togetherness,” and my personal favorite, “cocoa by candlelight”.

Hygge is about an atmosphere and an experience, rather than about things. It is about being with the people we love. A feeling that we are safe, that we are shielded from the world and allow ourselves to let our guard down. You may be having an endless conversation about the small or big things in life- or just be comfortable in each other’s silent company- or simply be by yourself enjoying a cup of tea. –The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking

Another description I personally resonate a lot with calls it the art of slowing down and enjoying the little things with people you love. If it was something tangible (but it’s really so much more)it may be loved ones around a fire, hot cocoa, woolen socks, natural materials, nature walks. etc. Now that you have a feel of what hygge is, maybe you can relate to my fondness of wanting this environment. Who wouldn’t? So what does hygge have to do with Christmas? Like, almost everything…going back to Mr. Wiking now.

For many people- Danes included- Christmas is a wonderful time. However wonderful is far from the only word used to describe it. If you ask people of any nationality to describe Christmas in one word, adjectives like happy, cheerful, warm, and heartfelt would probably surface. Danes would agree with a lot of these. But, they would object, “the most fitting word is missing. You forgot hyggelig!” …

Even though it is possible to hygge all year round, only once a year is hygge the ultimate goal of an entire month. Without achieving hygge, a Dane’s toil for the Christmas project is redundant. Chestnuts, a fireplace, friends, and family coming together around a table of delicious treats; decorations of red, green, and gold; the fresh scent of pine from the Christmas tree; carols everybody knows; and the broadcasting of the very same TV shows as last year- and every year before that- these are features of a fairly ordinary Christmas all over the world.

Indeed there are Christmas traditions which are specifically Danish, but a Danish Christmas is not considerably different from a German, French, or British one in terms of activities or traditions.

What is different in Denmark, though, is that a Danish Christmas will always be planned, thought of, and evaluated in relation to the concept of hygge. At no other time of the year will you hear Danes mentioning hygge as much. It is literally mentioned at any given opportunity. And, of course, Danish includes a compound word julehygge (Christmas hygge), which is both an adjective and a verb. “Do you want to come over for some julehygge?” –The Little Book of Hygge

He dedicates a whole chapter or so to the preparations, sharing in detail the recipe for a hygge worthy Christmas. Most of my readers know that I am Catholic, and the central focus of our Christmas and outcome of Christmas happiness is based on the birth of our Lord. This book is obviously not going into that, but when I read this chapter on a hygge Christmas I was thrilled, and I’m going to tell you why..jah! But first you should read the necessity of the turmoiling preparations to make a hygge Christmas even possible.

*smiles slowly*

All the preparations for a hyggelig Christmas are quite often stressful and, indeed, not very hyggelige. Now, this may seem a bit contradictory, but it actually makes sense. Hygge is possible only if it stands in opposition to something which is not hygge. It is essential for the concept of hygge that it constitutes an alternative to everything that is not hyggligt in our everyday lives. For a brief moment, hygge protects us against that which is not hyggeligt. There must be an anti-hygge for hygge to be valuable. Life might seem stressful. It might seem unsafe and unfair. Life is often centered on money and social status. But life is none of these things in moments of hygge.

In this way, achieving hygge would not be possible with out all the bustle and turmoil leading up to Christmas. All the money, stress, work, and time being sacrificed in the preparations for Christmas leads up to hygge as a climax. Hygge is postponed in order to be accomplished. –The Little Book of Hygge

This all sounds incredibly secular, though I get it! Even if you’re not into hygge (unless you’re a Grinch) Christmas preparations take work, though they don’t necessarily have to be stressful and the like. I’m not actually sure if this author is a Christian or not,though that’s besides the point, as he has given us a crystal clear example from a completely secular point of view, the value and necessity of the Advent season for a successful Christmas.

I love Christmas. But I hate that Christmas isn’t celebrated in the Christmas season . As soon as Thanksgiving is over, and sometimes before, “Christmas” starts to be celebrated all over the country. “In this way, achieving hygge would not be possible with out all the bustle and turmoil leading up to Christmas.” In this way, receiving the true mark of Christmas on your heart and soul from our Infant Christ on Christmas morning would not be possible with out preparing our hearts and souls in the Advent season. The turmoil is necessary. Christmas is postponed in order to be accomplished. Yet the secular world ignores this season given to us by Christ. As with most things, they miss the mark, cheapen the value, and lose the meaning. And what a shame that is.

Advent is a special and beloved time. We are not only preparing our hearts for the coming of our Lord, but we do also take care of the more secular duties. Christmas baking, gift making and getting etc. But except for the special feast days, like St. Nicholas’ and St. Lucys’ it is not a time for feasting. It’s easy to be distracted and swept into the holiday mood with premature Christmas music and holiday decorations up everywhere you go, but the struggle is worth it. Remember as true followers of Christ you will always be going against the way of the world. And the worlds way is skipping advent in this case.

He that is not withme, is againstme: and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth Matt. 12:30

We turn off the radio and sing our own hymns, O come O come Emanuel, and focus our hearts on the empty manger waiting for our Redeemer to come.

Tomorrow will mark the 3rd Sunday of Advent. It’s never too late to “make straight the way to God within”. He’s waiting for you.

One of my favorite Advent hymns:

On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry
Announces that the Lord is nigh;
Awake and hearken, for He brings
Glad tidings of the King of kings.

Then cleansed be ev’ry heart from sin;
Make straight the way of God within;
Oh, let us all our hearts prepare
For Christ to come and enter there.

The Story of St. Lucia

The story of St. Lucia, the symbol of light amid the darkness for Sweden, has many different versions. Although her feast day is celebrated on December 13th in Sweden she was born far away in Southern Italy, in the third century A.D.

St. Lucia’s father was a wealthy nobleman, but he died when she was a baby. Her mother raised her to be a Christian. To be a Christian in those days was against the law and you risked being arrested, tortured and put to death.

St. Lucia grew up loving God very much to take that risk. She loved Him so much that she didn’t want to marry anyone, but her heavenly Bridegroom, Jesus Christ. But her mother, Eutychia, didn’t understand this, and she arranged for Lucia to marry a pagan.

After this, Eutychia became very ill. Lucia persuaded her mother to go on pilgrimage with her to St. Agatha’s tomb. There Lucia had a vision. St. Agatha appeared to her and told her God was pleased with her desire to remain a virgin. Eutychia was healed, and Lucia begged her mother not to force her into marriage, but to let her give her dowry away to the poor instead. In those days a girl could not be married without a dowry.

Lucia’s fiance heard that she and her mother were giving away all their belongings to the poor. He was so angry that he went to the governor of the island, Paschasius, and told him that Lucia was a Christian.

Paschasius had Lucia arrested and commanded her to sacrifice to the idols to which she refused. When the soldiers tried to take her away they found they could not move her. They tried pulling her with ropes and several yoke of oxen but to no avail. In a rage, Paschasius ordered her to be burned alive on the spot. The soldiers piled wood all around her and lit the fire. Lucia prayed to God and not a hair was singed on her head. She only glowed with a holy light through the flames. Finally one of the soldiers drove his sword into her throat.

She was buried with honor and became the patron saint of her city, Syracuse.

She is Santa Lucia to the Italians, Sankta Lucia to the Swedes, and St. Lucia or St. Lucy, to all English speakers.(1,2,3)

Why The Swedes Celebrate St. Lucia

The Swedes love St. Lucia because she saved Sweden from a terrible famine. Back in the Middle Ages, the people of southern Sweden were starving. On the darkest day of the most terrible winter of all, they saw a boat sailing toward them across Lake Vannern.

St. Lucia clad in all white and glowing in an unearthly light stood on the ship that had no sails, ors or wind to propel it as it glided to shore.When it reached land she handed out huge sacks of wheat to all the people. The wheat from the boat was enough for bread to last all winter.(1)

St. Lucia Morning In Sweden

Early in the morning of December 13th, the oldest daughter has the privelage of being the Lucia, wearing a long white gown sashed with red, with a wreath of lingonberry leaves on her hair. Candles – now usually battery operated- are set into the wreath. Her sisters wear white gowns with tinsel in their hair and around their waists. Boys in the family wear tall pointed hats with stars on them. The “Starboys” traditionally are associated with the three wise men. The children awaken their parents and offer them coffee, saffron rolls called Lussekatter (Lucy cat buns) and ginger snaps, called pepparkakor. (2)

Symbolisms

The wreath of candles is worn because:

St Lucy is the saint of light. (Lucy comes from the Latin word lux, which means light.)

The legend of St. Lucy coming in an unearthly light and saving the the Swedes from famine.

Her feast day falls in the darkest part of winter, so St. Lucia is associated with the return of the light.

A legend states that Lucia used to bring provisions to the Christians hiding in the catacombs and in order to keep her hands free she wore candles on her head.

White dresses are worn to remind us she was a bride of Christ and the red sash is a symbol of martyrdom.

Lussekatter or the Lucy cats are because she brought the wheat in the famine

Starboys are associated with the three wisemen (1,2)

Christmas Wheat

A beautiful Hungarian custom on the feast of St. Lucy is to plant the “Christmas wheat.” The wheat will be sprouted soft green by Christmas. The children can then take it to the creche as a gift for the Child Jesus, symbolic of the Eucharistic bread by which He feeds our souls at the altar. (3)

What I Do/Want to Do/ Will Do

My oldest will be 5, so we content ourselves making Lucy cats and pepperkakkor and reading our St. Lucy stories on her feast day. A certain little girl keeps begging me to make a St. Lucy gown so she can be St. Lucy. I also have great plans to contrive some sort of fabulous wreath crown with battery operated candlesticks in it. Even though I much prefer a real candlestick, a batter operated one might be a bit easier to maneuver in this situation.

Future goals could definitely include Lucia and star boys waking up early and tip toeing through the house to bring mother and father Lucy cats, ginger snaps, and hot coffee in bed. #goals.

My favorite St. Lucy childrens books are Lucia Saint Of Light, and Lucia Morning In Sweden. If you’re looking for an easy and inviting story to engage your children with and share the feast of St. Lucy and/or add another beautiful tradition and feast day leading up to Christmas, I highly recommend them. They also have recipes. and Lucia Morning in Sweden has recipes and dress patterns if you’re good at sewing that is…Which if you are, I may need to hire you to make mine.

If you want a great pepperkakkor recipe be sure to look at the recipe I make here.